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Interventional Radiology

Post Biopsy

  1. Go home and rest quietly for the remainder of the day. DO NOT drive, operate machinery or appliances or make any legal decisions today. You may resume normal activities tomorrow.
  2. Have a responsible adult drive you home and stay with you for the remainder of the day.
  3. You may resume your normal diet after the procedure. Avoid alcoholic beverages and sedatives for 24 hours. DO NOT take aspirin-containing products, ibuprofen or blood-thinning products for 48 hours after procedure.
  4. You may take Tylenol (1-2 tablets every four to six hours) for mild discomfort at the biopsy site. If you develop severe pain, swelling or redness at the biopsy site, call Interventional Radiology at 510-784-4714.
  5. For liver, kidney or bone biopsy, call Interventional Radiology or your physician immediately if you develop a rapid pulse (greater than 100 beats per minute), feel faint, sweat profusely, experience a sudden onset of weakness, increased pain, swelling at the biopsy site or bleeding from the biopsy site.
  6. After a needle biopsy of the lung, it is common to cough up small amounts of blood. Call Interventional Radiology or your physician immediately if you develop a sudden onset of rapid breathing (greater than 20 breaths per minute), upper back or chest pain, shortness of breath, sweating, skin color change, saturation of dressing at the biopsy site or a sudden onset of anxiety.
  7. Report a temperature greater than 101 degrees Fahrenheit (38.3 degrees Celsius) to Interventional Radiology or to your physician.
  8. Check the dressing periodically for an increase in drainage. Keep the dressing dry for 24 hours. Replace with an adhesive bandage if necessary. You may shower 24 hours after the procedure.
  9. Call your physician for a follow-up appointment to discuss to biopsy results.

If any of these occur you may call our office at 510-784-4714 during regular business hours (8am-5pm M-F). At other times, you may leave a non-urgent message at the same number. If you need urgent attention or advice, you may call your local advice nurse or emergency room. For life-threatening emergencies, call 911.